Martin Lewis urges people earning under £60,000 to check if they’re missing out on thousands: ‘Don’t assume'
Millions of people are overlooking £8billion in Universal Credit as it goes unclaimeD
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Money saving expert Martin Lewis is urging people earning under £60,000 a year to check to see if they can get extra cash each month.
Writing on social media, the financial journalist wrote: “There are up to 21 million unclaimed benefits. Don't assume, ‘it's not me’ (a few benefits aren't means tested).
“From Universal Credit to water bill support, council tax help to Attendance Allowance, its worth a few mins to scan if you are entitled.”
In the Money Tips newsletter by Money Saving Expert, which Mr Lewis founded, his team highlighted to readers that those earning under this amount could be eligible for Universal Credit.
The newsletter said those likely missing out include “households with lower incomes, up to roughly £35,000 a year”. However if someone has children, high childcare costs and rent, those earning up to £60,000 may qualify for support.
The warning follows a report which found there is over £23billion in means-tested benefits and social tariffs going unclaimed.
A report found there is over £23billion in means-tested benefits and social tariffs going unclaimed
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Millions of people are overlooking £8billion in Universal Credit as it goes unclaimed.
The average amount people were failing to claim each year was £5,772, figures from think-tank Policy in Practice showed.
Those in receipt of Universal Credit may also qualify for additional help, such as free school meals or reduced utility bills.
Many charities offer benefit calculators to help people find out what they could claim.
Money Saving Expert also hosts a benefits calculator on the website, promising a simple process that takes just ten minutes.
The calculator will work out if people can claim any financial help based on their income and savings.
It will also flag up some (but not all) of the relevant non-means-tested benefits, based on the information they provide about their circumstances.
State support is intended to help those in a range of situations, from those struggling on a low income, to new families, to those with long-standing medical conditions.
Deven Ghelani, Policy in Practice director said: “Support from the social security system is a right.
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‘The failure to deliver support to people who are entitled to it directly affects education, health outcomes and social participation for millions of people.”
The total figure for unclaimed support is £4billion higher than previous estimates, which Policy in Practice said was due to the uprating of benefits, Universal Credit rollout, and refined estimates on take-up rates.